Page 74 of A Simple Reminder

“Thank you, Mrs. Karam, this was incredible as always,” I say, genuinely grateful, as I lean back, feeling wonderfully full.

“Oh, habibti, what have I told you? Call me Theresa. You’re family.” She’s been a mother to both me and Leora, who never had our own, and the warmth she gives so freely is something I’ll always cherish. It’s like her home is open to fill any space we’re missing in our own lives.

When I was younger, I sometimes felt a pang of jealousy–not toward Addie, but toward the life I never had. Watching the ease and comfort she shared with her mom made me wish for that kind of bond, that unbreakable connection I’d missed out on. But every time those feelings surfaced, it was as if Mrs. Karam knew. She’d wrap me in one of her all-encompassing hugs, as if silently saying,You’re safe here. You’re loved here.They gave me another place to call home without needing to ask.

The memories warm my chest as we settle into the present. After dinner, Adeline brews some coffee, and we all sink into a comfortable lull, the kind that only comes after a good meal. And as always, Mrs. Karam’s warm gaze shifts to me, curiosity sparkling in her eyes, as though she’s about to ask something she’s been holding back.

“Ya, Sophie. Have you met someone yet?” she asks casually, her expression open and curious.

“Mom…” Adeline mutters, rolling her eyes but smiling.

“Shou? She’s like a daughter to me—I can ask her everything I ask you.”

And here we go. I laugh, “No, I haven’t.” Her eyes bore into mine as if she’s seeing straight through me, while Adeline quietly sips her coffee, clearly not willing to join in.

“Sophie, don’t lie to me.”

“MOM!”

“Khalas, Adeline. This is none of your business.”

Adeline mutters something under her breath, clearly annoyed, and Mrs. Karam shoots her a look before turning back to me with an expectant smile. “Yalla,Sophie, tell me. So I can be happy for someone, at least.” She casts a side-eye at Adeline, who huffs and continues mumbling. I feel a little bad and decide to steer her attention away from Adeline.

“I’m just focusing on work right now,” I reply, trying to sound confident. “I want to reach a certain point in my career before I settle down.” It’s not a complete lie—I do want to be established before committing to someone long-term. But deep down, I know that if the right person came along, I wouldn’t turn him away, no matter when he showed up.

You’re already rejecting the right person,a voice sings in my mind, making me tense.Stop it!

She clicks her tongue, clearly unimpressed. “Uff, you two. Always career, career, career. When will you start living?” her eyes linger on me, a soft concern hidden in the warmth of her smile, “Habibti, life waits for no one. Don’t let your career be the only thing you love. It won’t love you back.”

It won’t love you back.The phrase lingers like an unwelcome truth. I force a smile, but deep down, a pang of uncertainty tugs at me. Will I ever have that? Will I ever be loved in the way she means?You will if you let Liam in. My hands tighten around my coffee cup, and I can feel the warmth seeping into my skin, grounding me, even as my thoughts start to spiral. I seriously need to get a grip on my own thoughts.

Adeline breaks the tension, nudging her mother with a playful eye-roll. “Okay, Mama, it’s getting late. You can pester Sophie about finding a husband next time.”

She sighs, clicking her tongue as she shakes her head. “Fine, fine! But remember,a woman can have the world and still want someone to share it with. You can be a queen or a boss—whatever you girls say nowadays—and still want to be loved. It doesn’t diminish your power.” She leans in, wrapping her arms around me in a warm hug, one that feels like a silent reassurance, even if her words make me question things I’m not ready to admit.

THIRTY-ONE

LIAM

Idodge Micah’s right hook at the last second, relieved I don’t get another blow to the face. It was about time Micah and I met face-to-face, considering I’ve used his name in every single lie since I got to New York.

We’ve been at it for the past hour, rounding off our workout with some sparring. It’s the perfect release—when he’s not actually trying to knock me out. Micah is a seasoned Thai boxer, and every time we’re in the same town, we squeeze in a workout.

I duck another jab, but the next one’s faster, catching me square in the face.

“Oh shit!” he blurts as I throw up both hands in a time-out. Pain radiates from my nose across my face, sharp and unignorable.

“Pretty sure you just broke my nose, man,” I say, shaking off my gloves and pressing my fingers to my nose. Sure enough, there’s blood. Great.

“Can someone get some ice?” he calls, and we both collapse onto the corner of the ring.

“Sorry, Liam,” he says, running a hand over his face. “For a minute, I was in a real fight.”

I laugh through the ache. “Yeah, you don’t say.” A young kid from the gym hands me an ice pack and I steady it against my nose, the cold biting into the skin and numbing the pain a little. Micah lets out a heavy sigh, the kind that’s been held in way too long. The look on his face says it all—he’s carrying something dark, something I’ve never seen in him before. There’s something up with him.

“What’s wrong, man?” I ask. We've been friends for over fifteen years; I know when he's struggling. And judging by the way he’s been throwing punches today, something's eating at him.

He rubs a hand over his face, and I catch myself thinking it again—Micah is, objectively, a ridiculously handsome guy. Yeah, I said it. His eyes are impossible to ignore—one a piercing green, the other a rich, warm brown. Add to that, his skin tone, which looks like he’s been kissed by the sun year-round, and a beard that’s always perfectly shaped, even when he swears he hasn’t touched it in days. The cherry on top? His well-earned physique from years in the ring. It’s no wonder both women and men practically line up to throw themselves at him.

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